Honeyghan Attacks Quickly, Stops Bumphus in Second Round

Lloyd Honeyghan stopped American challenger Johnny Bumphus in the second round Sunday at Wembley, England, to retain his World Boxing Council and International Boxing Federation welterweight titles.

Referee Sam Williams of Detroit halted the fight, scheduled for 15 rounds, after 55 seconds of the second when the challenger, from Mount Laurel, N.J., was caught on the ropes and heading for a third visit to the canvas.

“I had psyched myself up to go to war,” said Honeyghan, a 26-year-old Jaimican-born Briton, after his quick demolition of the former world junior welterweight titlist.

“It was all Rambo stuff. It was rough-him-up business, no messing around. I didn’t want to dance around the ring. I was here to fight because that’s how I earn a living.”

It was Honeyghan’s first defense of two of the three titles he won from Donald Curry in Atlantic City last September--one of the biggest upsets in boxing history.

In what he said was an anti-apartheid gesture, he gave up the World Boxing Assn. championship, which now is held by American Mark Breland, to avoid fighting a South African, Harold Volbrecht, who was the No. 1 contender.

Bumphus came into the fight as a former WBA junior welterweight champion. But he was swept aside by a whirlwind attack by the unbeaten champion, who tore into the challenger from the first bell.

It was Honeyghan’s 29th victory in 29 fights, while Bumphus slipped to 29-2-0.

Honeyghan, who weighed 146 3/4 compared to Bumphus’ 145 1/2, said he benefited from seven weeks of training at Palm Springs with manager Mickey Duff.

“I told the manager I wanted to go to America for the right training, the right sparring,” Honeyghan said. “I was fitter than I have ever been in my life. I was ready to eat that man alive.”